Methodologies
Of
Multiplication
HARVESTIME INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE
This course is part of the Harvestime International Institute, a program designed to equip believers for effective spiritual harvest.
The basic theme of the training is to teach what Jesus taught, that which took men who were fishermen, tax collectors, etc., and changed them into reproductive Christians who reached their world with the Gospel in a demonstration of power.
This manual is a single course in one of several modules of curriculum which moves believers from visualizing through deputizing, multiplying, organizing, and mobilizing to achieve the goal of evangelizing.
For further information on additional courses write:
Harvestime International Institute
3092 Sultana Dr.
Madera, California 93637
U.S.A.
© Harvestime International Institute
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How To Use This Manual . . . . . . . . I
Suggestions For Group Study. . . . . . . II
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . 1
Course Objectives . . . . . . . . . 3
1. Fishers Of Men . . . . . . . . . 4
2. The Day Of Small Things . . . . . . . 11
3. Parables Of Multiplication . . . . . . . 32
4. One Plus One Equals More Than Two . . . . . . 42
5. An Introduction To Church Growth . . . . . . 54
6. Internal Growth . . . . . . . . . 66
7. Expansion Growth . . . . . . . . 86
8. Extension Growth . . . . . . . . 111
9. Bridging Growth . . . . . . . . . 120
10. Decisions Or Disciples? . . . . . . . 137
11. Stunted Growth . . . . . . . . . 159
12. The Extension Training Center . . . . . . . 171
Answers To Self-Tests. . . . . . . . 186
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
MANUAL FORMAT
Each lesson consists of:
Objectives: These are the goals you should achieve by studying the chapter. Read them before starting the lesson.
Key Verse: This verse emphasizes the main concept of the chapter. Memorize it.
Chapter Content: Study each section. Use your Bible to look up any references not printed in the manual.
Self-Test: Take this test after you finish studying the chapter. Try to answer the questions without using your Bible or this manual. When you have concluded the Self-Test, check your answers in the answer section provided at the end of the book.
For Further Study: This section will help you continue your study of the Word of God, improve your study skills, and apply what you have learned to your life and ministry.
Final Examination: If you are enrolled in this course for credit, you received a final examination along with this course. Upon conclusion of this course, you should complete this examination and return it for grading as instructed.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS NEEDED
You will need a King James version of the Bible.
I
SUGGESTIONS FOR GROUP STUDY
FIRST MEETING
Opening: Open with prayer and introductions. Get acquainted and register the students.
Establish Group Procedures: Determine who will lead the meetings, the time, place, and dates for the sessions.
Praise And Worship: Invite the presence of the Holy Spirit into your training session.
Distribute Manuals To Students: Introduce the manual title, format, and course objectives provided in the first few pages of the manual.
Make The First Assignment: Students will read the chapters assigned and take the Self-Tests prior to the next meeting. The number of chapters you cover per meeting will depend on chapter length, content, and the abilities of your group.
SECOND AND FOLLOWING MEETINGS
Opening: Pray. Welcome and register any new students and give them a manual. Take attendance. Have a time of praise and worship.
Review: Present a brief summary of what you studied at the last meeting.
Lesson: Discuss each section of the chapter using the HEADINGS IN CAPITAL BOLD FACED LETTERS as a teaching outline. Ask students for questions or comments on what they have studied. Apply the lesson to the lives and ministries of your students.
Self-Test: Review the Self-Tests students have completed. (Note: If you do not want the students to have access to the answers to the Self-Tests, you may remove the answer pages from the back of each manual.)
For Further Study: You may do these projects on a group or individual basis.
Final Examination: If your group is enrolled in this course for credit, you received a final examination with this course. Reproduce a copy for each student and administer the exam upon conclusion of this course.
II
MODULE: Multiplying
COURSE: Multiplication Methodologies
INTRODUCTION
The Bible records the creation of the world and the first man and woman (Genesis 1). The first command given by God to these newly created people was to multiply:
So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it...(Genesis 1:27-28)
This process was not only to be physical multiplication, it was also to be spiritual. As Adam and Eve multiplied physically they would fill the earth with others like themselves; people who knew God and walked in fellowship with Him. They would be reproducing spiritually as well as physically.
The fall of man into sin interfered with this process (Genesis 3). Sin resulted in physical death which hindered physical multiplication (Genesis 2:17). It also caused spiritual death which is the spiritual separation of sinful man from a righteous God. This hindered spiritual multiplication.
Because God loved man so much, He made a special plan to save people from this terrible spiritual death. God sent Jesus Christ to die for the sins of all mankind. Jesus paid the penalty of death in our place. Then He overcame death by rising again from the dead (John 20).
Each individual must choose to accept God's plan of salvation by asking forgiveness for sin and accepting Jesus as Savior.* As a believer in Jesus with sins forgiven, you are saved from spiritual death.
_____________________
* The Harvestime International Institute course, "Foundations Of Faith", explains God's plan of salvation in detail.
Although the physical body will someday die, you will continue to live spiritually and will receive a new body which will live forever:
...We shall all be changed...In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye...the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (I Corinthians 15:51, 52, 54)
When you accept Jesus as Savior, it is like being created by God all over again. The Bible calls it being "born again":
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
Being "born again" does not refer to physical birth. It refers to spiritual birth. You are recreated spiritually as a new creature in Christ. You are "new" because you no longer live in sin and practice the old sinful lifestyle:
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (II Corinthians 5:17)
In the beginning of the world, God's first command to His newly created people was to multiply. His first command to recreated, "born-again" believers is the same. We are to multiply spiritually and fill the earth with others like ourselves; people who love God and walk in fellowship with Him.
When Jesus first called men to follow Him, it was a call to spiritual multiplication (Luke 5:10). His last command to believers was to multiply spiritually (Acts 1:8). To meet the challenge of thousands of people who are dying in sin without the Gospel, each believer must become reproductive and learn the principles of spiritual multiplication.
This course shares Biblical methods of spiritual reproduction which will enable you to multiply in obedience to God's command. You will learn how to multiply spiritually as an individual and corporately within the context of the local church. If you apply the Biblical principles taught in this course, you can be responsible for the multiplication of thousands of trained and motivated believers.
If you are taking the Harvestime International Institute courses in order, this is the third course in Module Three, which focuses on multiplying the spiritual labor force trained through completion of Module Two.
The courses in Module Three are "Developing A Biblical World View", "Teaching Tactics", "Multiplication Methodologies", and "Power Principles". These courses develop awareness of the spiritual need of the world and explain how to meet that need through Biblical teaching and preaching, multiplication, and the endument of spiritual power.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course you will be able to:
∙ Reproduce spiritually through application of Biblical multiplication methods.
∙ Summarize multiplication principles taught in New Testament parables.
∙ Explain how a believer can multiply spiritually to raise up hundreds of new believers.
∙ Make your home a center for spiritual multiplication.
∙ Summarize principles for internal multiplication within the Church.
∙ Summarize principles for expansion multiplication of the Church.
∙ Summarize principles for extension multiplication of the Church.
∙ Summarize principles for bridging multiplication of the Church.
∙ Move converts beyond decision to discipleship.
∙ Identify factors that hinder spiritual multiplication.
∙ Establish a Harvestime International Institute as a center for spiritual multiplication.
CHAPTER ONE
FISHERS OF MEN
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
∙ Write the Key Verse from memory.
∙ Identify the first and last commandments of Jesus to His followers.
∙ Define "multiplication".
∙ Explain what is meant by spiritual multiplication.
∙ Define "method".
∙ Define "methodologies".
∙ Explain what is meant by spiritual "multiplication methodologies".
∙ Summarize principles of natural fishing which are applicable to spiritual fishing.
KEY VERSE:
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. (Mark 1:17)
INTRODUCTION
When Jesus Christ began His public ministry on earth, He called several men to be His first disciples:
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. (Mark 1:17)
His first command to these men was to multiply spiritually. If they followed Him, He would make them "fishers of men". They would reproduce as they "fished" spiritually for other men and women.
The last message of Jesus to His followers was a call to spiritual reproduction:
But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (Acts 1:8-9)
How could the disciples fulfill this great commission given by Jesus? How could this small group of people multiply to reach the entire world?
MULTIPLICATION METHODS
Jesus revealed specific methods which would enable His disciples to fulfill the command to reproduce spiritually. The first and most important of these was given as part of the commission in Acts 1:8. Disciples would multiply through the endument of power by the Holy Spirit. Other methods were revealed as the followers of Jesus began to multiply and reach the world with the Gospel. These methods are recorded in the books of Acts and the Epistles in the New Testament.
This course explains these methods of multiplication. It teaches you how to use them to reproduce spiritually and fulfill God's command. But first, you must understand what it means to multiply.
To "multiply" means to increase in number by reproduction. Multiplication is the process of multiplying. When something is multiplied it is reproduced over and over again in like form.
In the natural world, men and women reproduce themselves by having children. They multiply physically. Spiritual multiplication is done by reproducing spiritually. A believer reproduces by sharing the Gospel with others, leading them to become believers, and establishing them as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible reveals God's methods for spiritual multiplication. A "method" is a plan for accomplishing a specific goal. "Methodologies" is a system of methods which can be combined to reach a goal.
"Multiplication methodologies" are methods which enable believers to reach the goal of spiritual reproduction. The goal never changes. We are to reproduce spiritually and reach the entire world with the Gospel. There are many different methods by which this goal may be accomplished. These are the "methodologies", or various plans, by which you can multiply.
When man cooperates with God's multiplication methods, spiritual reproduction results. Believers reproduce spiritually within the womb of the Church.
THE CALL TO ACTION
The men Jesus first called as disciples were fishermen. They were men of action. They did not catch fish one at a time. They used big nets to fish and brought in many fish of all kinds.
When Jesus called them to be "fishers of men", He revealed a similar plan for spiritual multiplication. His followers were to "catch" men and women from every nation, culture, language, and ethnic background. Their spiritual "nets" were to be filled.
Jesus called men to action. He said He would "make them to become fishers of men". They would not just be spectators in God's plan. They would be participators as they fished for the eternal souls of men and women.
The call of Jesus is still the same. We are to become fishers of men. If we are not fishing, then we are not following.
FISHERS OF MEN
Why did Jesus use the example of fishing to call His followers?
First, it was an example they could easily understand. These men made their living by fishing. It was the thing to which they devoted their time and energy.
When Jesus called them to become fishers of men, they understood that they would "catch" men spiritually, just as they had caught fish in the natural world. They also understood the demands of this call. Spiritual "fishing" would require a commitment of their time and energy.
Second, Jesus used the example of fishing to call followers because there are principles of natural fishing which can be applied spiritually. Here are some of these principles:
YOU MUST GO WHERE THE FISH ARE:
If you want to catch fish, you must go where the fish are. Fish live in water. You will never catch fish by waiting on top of a mountain or in the middle of a desert.
As a believer, you must go where the fish are spiritually. Men and women live in the world. You can not wait in the church building for unbelievers to come to you. You must go into the marketplace, the schools, and the offices and "fish" wherever unsaved people are found.
YOU MUST ANALYZE THE ENVIRONMENT:
When you are fishing in the natural world, it is important to consider the environment. You must observe the water and its current and depth. You must know if it is salt water or fresh water. You must observe how the wind is blowing. All of these natural factors determine the type of bait and the methods you will use to fish.
The same is true in the natural world. You must analyze the environment in which you find men and women. What are their needs? What is happening in their lives? This will help you determine the method to use in "fishing" for their souls.
When Jesus met the woman at the well in John 4, He analyzed the environment in which He found her. She was seeking natural water. He used this natural need to help her recognize her spiritual need. The method He used "reeled her in" to the Kingdom of God.
In the natural world, if you are using trout fishing methods in salt water you will never catch trout. Trout do not live in salt water. They live in fresh water.
If you do not analyze the environment in the spiritual world, you will find yourself "fishing for trout in salt water" because you do not understand where people are and how to reach them.
YOU SHOULD USE DIFFERENT METHODS:
A good fisherman uses different methods to catch fish. He uses various baits to attract the fish. He uses different kinds of fishing equipment which may include fishing rods, nets, spears, or baskets. Different kinds of fish are attracted by different methods. This is why a good fisherman uses various methods.
A fisherman can learn some of these methods in books written about fishing. He learns other methods by experience and observation. The methods he uses change, but the goal is always the same...To catch fish.
If you are to be an effective spiritual fisherman, you must use different methods. Different people are attracted to the Gospel by various methods. Some are "reeled in" by teaching and preaching or comfort in time of need. Others are "caught" by different methods.
The methods of spiritual fishing are varied, but the goal is always the same...To catch the souls of men and women.
YOU MUST CAST OUT AND REEL IN:
Whether you are using a fishing rod, net, or spear in the natural world, you must cast it into the waters and draw it out again.
In the natural world, how you cast into the water is very important. Your casting must be on target. You must also use care in order to land your fish after catching it.
In the spiritual world, we are promised if we "cast out" the Word of God, it will not return void. It will accomplish its purpose in the hearts and lives of men and women (Isaiah 55:11). When you use the Word of God, you will be on target every time. Eventually, it will "catch" men and women.
TIMING IS IMPORTANT:
The time of day and seasons of the year affect fishing in the natural world. Some fish migrate and cannot be caught in certain regions during some seasons. The biggest fish are caught early in the day when they come closer to the surface for feeding. If you fish in the wrong season or at the wrong time, you won't catch many fish.
Timing is important in spiritual fishing also. You will learn later in this course how important it is to "fish" the receptive areas of the world when the fish are "biting" spiritually.
YOU MUST BE PATIENT:
A fisherman in the natural world must be patient. He must wait for the fish to take the bait or swim into the net. The same is true in the spiritual world:
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 5:7)
SPIRITUAL REPRODUCTION
Fishing in the natural world results in multiplication of fish. Fishing in the spiritual world results in multiplication of men and women in the Kingdom of God. Natural reproduction results in multiplication of living people. Spiritual reproduction results in multiplication of spiritual people.
Natural reproduction is the result of life. Spiritual reproduction is also the result of life. It does not come through programs and promotions of man. Spiritual reproduction comes through the spiritual life flow of God.
In the natural body, reproduction starts in a woman's womb with a single cell of life. That cell multiplies until a complete body is formed and a new baby is born.
Spiritual growth is similar. It starts with the life flow of God in one man or woman. It multiplies in the spiritual "womb" of the Church. You will learn how spiritual reproduction starts as you study "The Day Of Small Things" in the next chapter.
SELF-TEST
1. Write the Key Verse from memory.
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2. What were the first and last commandments of Jesus to His followers?
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3. What is multiplication?
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4. How does a believer reproduce spiritually?
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5. Define "method".
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6. Define "methodologies".
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7. Explain what is meant by spiritual "multiplication methodologies".
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8. Summarize principles of natural fishing which are applicable to spiritual fishing.
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(Answers to tests are provided at the conclusion of the final chapter in this manual.)
FOR FURTHER STUDY
The call of Jesus to multiply spiritually is not an option or a suggestion. It is a command. Study the following chart which compares the various Biblical records of the Great Commission. Look up each reference in your Bible. Note the authority you have to fulfill the command. Observe the extent of your ministry, its message, and the activities in which you are to engage in the multiplication process.
Reference The Authority The Extent The Message The Activities
Matthew "All authority"All nations All things Disciple by going,
28:1-20 Jesus has baptizing, teaching
commanded
Mark Name of Jesus All the The Gospel Go and preach,
16:15 world to heal the sick.
every
creature
Luke Name of Jesus All nations Repentance Preach, proclaim,
24:46-49 beginning at and the and witness
Jerusalem forgiveness
of sins
John Sent by Jesus (The extent of the ministry, the message,
20:21 as He was and the activities are to be the same "as Jesus".)
sent by the Father
Acts Power of Jerusalem, Christ Witness
1:8 the Holy Judea,
Spirit Samaria, and
the uttermost
part of the world
CHAPTER TWO
THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
-Write the Key Verse from memory.
-Summarize basic principles of multiplication.
-Identify various types of spiritual growth.
-List references which show that concern with multiplication is Scriptural.
-Identify factors which reveal a wrong emphasis on numeric growth.
KEY VERSE:
For who hath despised the day of small things? (Zechariah 4:10)
INTRODUCTION
Growth in the human body starts with a single cell of life which is the result of an intimate relationship between a man and a woman. That cell is multiplied within the mother's womb until another human being is created. When it matures, that new human being also has the ability to multiply.
Spiritual growth starts with a relationship between one person and the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual life flows into the soul and spirit of one who has accepted Jesus as Savior. That spark of life, nurtured in the spiritual womb of the Church, grows until a new disciple is created. That disciple has the ability to reproduce spiritually by leading others to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Whether in the natural or spiritual worlds, multiplication starts with a single cell of life. This is why God said:
For who hath despised the day of small things? (Zechariah 4:10)
In this chapter you will start with "small things". You will learn basic principles of multiplication and about various types of spiritual growth. You will learn of God's concern for spiritual multiplication and of factors which indicate a wrong emphasis on numeric growth. You will start with basic principles, the "small things" upon which the greater revelation is based.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MULTIPLICATION
You must understand basic principles of spiritual multiplication in order to learn and apply the methodologies. The Biblical principles of multiplication do not change but the methods by which you multiply may vary. The methods change, but the purpose always remains the same.
The purpose and principles of God always remain the same but the strategy to reach these purposes changes. God's purpose from the beginning of time has been...
...That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him. (Ephesians 1:10)
As the spiritual life of His people and historical conditions changes among the nations, God changes His strategy as necessary to accomplish His purposes. For example, when fathers in Israelite families failed in their spiritual duty, God raised up the priests. When the priests became corrupt, He called prophets as spiritual leaders.
Jesus used many different methods of ministry. He did not deal with all people in the same way. His methods varied, but His purpose remained the same...To touch and change the lives of men and women.
Here are some basic principles you must understand in the "day of small things" before you begin to multiply:
GOD IS CONCERNED WITH THE MULTITUDES:
God's concern has always been with the whole world:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16)
God is...
...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)
Jesus expressed this same concern when He said:
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
(Luke 19:10)
...for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)
God is concerned with the multitudes. He is concerned with numbers. He is concerned with the multiplication of believers who will reproduce and spread the Gospel. As you begin your study of multiplication methods you must start with the same concern as God; that of reaching the entire world with the Gospel message.
IT IS GOD WHO GIVES GROWTH:
Spiritual multiplication cannot be accomplished apart from God. It is God who gives growth:
...God gave the increase. (I Corinthians 3:6)
MAN MUST COOPERATE WITH GOD'S PRINCIPLES:
There are principles in God's Word which are applicable to every area of life and ministry. God works through men who know how to cooperate with these principles. From the beginning of the world, God has worked on the earth through man. He gave Adam and Eve the task of keeping the garden. He used a man named Noah to preserve life on the earth during the flood.
God raised up Abraham to found the nation of Israel through which He would reveal Himself to the nations of the world. God also used prophets, kings, and judges to accomplish His plan in Old Testament times.
In the New Testament, a man named John the Baptist "prepared the way for the Lord". Jesus began His ministry with common men and when He returned to Heaven He left the destiny of the Gospel in the hands of these same men. The whole Biblical record is one of man cooperating with the principles of God to achieve the purposes of God.
This is true in spiritual multiplication. God does not bypass man to spread the Gospel. He uses men and women who understand and cooperate with His principles of multiplication. Paul summarized this cooperative relationship:
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
(I Corinthians 3:6)
Paul stressed the urgency for believers to fulfill their responsibility in the plan of God:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:13-14)
JESUS IS THE FOCUS OF MULTIPLICATION:
Jesus said:
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
(John 12:32)
Jesus was speaking here of His "lifting up" on the cross to die for the sins of all mankind. Through His death, He would draw all men through the power of the Gospel. When you share the Gospel message, Jesus is lifted up. When He is lifted up in your life and your church, people are drawn by the power of the Gospel message. Multiplication is guaranteed when Jesus is lifted up.
THE WORD OF GOD CAUSES GROWTH:
Jesus told a parable about growth in Matthew 13:1-9. He explained the parable in Matthew 13:18-23. Read these passages in your Bible. In this parable, the seed represents the Word of God. God has promised when we "sow" His Word, it is not done in vain:
So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
...For I will hasten my Word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:12)
It is the Word of God that brings change in the lives of men and women. That change results in growth and multiplication based on the Word of God.
THE HOLY SPIRIT ENABLES MULTIPLICATION:
In the final message of Jesus to His disciples He said:
But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
The power of the Holy Spirit enables multiplication. The gifts of the Holy Spirit equip for multiplication. The fruit of the Holy Spirit causes reproduction. We will examine the role of the Holy Spirit in spiritual multiplication later in this course.
MULTIPLICATION IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY:
In the early church, the spread of the Gospel was not left to the full-time pastors, prophets, evangelists, and teachers. Every New Testament believer was spiritually reproductive.
If we are to reach the world with the Gospel, we must return to this strategy of the early church. Both leaders and laymen must share the responsibility for spiritual multiplication. The growth in world population requires a return to the New Testament plan of ministry by each member of the Body of Christ. We cannot reach the world through token efforts and half-hearted dedication.
There are enough Christians in the world that the entire world could easily be reached with the Gospel. There lacks only a sufficient number of inspired people to recognize and respond to the opportunity for multiplication.
The command given by Jesus to believers is to "go" into all the world with the Gospel message. You do not have to wait for the command to "go" because it already has been given. In relation to the spread of the Gospel, the command is to "go" and watch for the stops, not stop and wait for the "go".
TYPES OF GROWTH
The Bible speaks of four types of church growth or multiplication:
GEOGRAPHIC GROWTH:
Geographic growth was predicted by the Lord Jesus:
But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Growth was to extend geographically throughout the nations of the world.
NUMERIC GROWTH:
The church would experience numeric growth as it grew geographically. Numeric growth of the first church is recorded in the book of Acts. For example, the church had increased from 12 to 120 in Acts 1:15; to 3,000 in Acts 2:41; and to 5,000 in Acts 4:4.
ETHNIC GROWTH:
The early church experienced ethnic growth also. The Gospel was extended beyond the Jews to include Gentiles (people of all nations).
SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
Growth in numbers is not the only emphasis of spiritual multiplication. As you will learn later in this course, internal spiritual growth is also important. Followers of Jesus must grow in spiritual quality as well as quantity:
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ... (II Peter 3:18)
God's desire is that we...
Speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)
THE EMPHASIS ON NUMBERS
Some people ignore the subject of spiritual multiplication and church growth because they believe an emphasis on "numbers" is wrong. But in the Bible there are many records of God's concern with numbers. For examples, see Numbers 1:1-3; 2:23-24; 26:1-4; Revelation 7:9; 20:8; Genesis 22:17; and Hebrews 6:14.
Jesus told many parables concerning numeric growth. You will study these in another chapter. He also indicated that careful numeric records are kept in Heaven:
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in Heaven, over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)
Multiplication is emphasized in the record of the early church in the book of Acts. Summaries of the growth of the church are recorded in Acts 1:15; 2:41; 4:4; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; and 28:30-31.
You must not ignore the subject of multiplication just because of a few problems with wrong emphasis. Rather, you must recognize and deal with the problems. There is a wrong emphasis on multiplication when the following factors are present:
NUMERIC GROWTH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SPIRITUAL:
When spiritual growth is compromised to attract the crowds, there is a misplaced emphasis on numbers. Some ministers say only what people like to hear in order to attract great crowds. The Bible warns that...
...the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables. (II Timothy 4:3-4)
PRIDE IS THE MOTIVATION:
Read I Chronicles 21:18. David's concern with numbers here was motivated by Satan and was an act of pride. When you begin to take pride in great numbers, your emphasis is wrong.
EMULATION IS PRACTICED:
There is a sin of the flesh mentioned in Galatians 5:20 which is called "emulations". Emulations is a form of jealousy which results in imitating others to equal or surpass their achievements. When you are jealous of large ministries and begin to imitate them in order to grow, you have a wrong emphasis on numbers.
EMPHASIS IS ON CHURCH GROWTH INSTEAD OF KINGDOM GROWTH:
The goal of spiritual multiplication is winning new converts to Jesus Christ and discipling them until they become responsible, reproductive members of the Kingdom of God. There is a difference between church growth and Kingdom growth. If First Church splits and 100 of their members go to Second Church, church growth occurs in Second Church. But there has been no Kingdom growth. Multiplication has not occurred. There has only been a transfer of existing numbers.
The goal of multiplication is not to attract new members from another church, but to reach the unreached with the Gospel. Emphasis on numbers is wrong when the goal of church growth replaces that of Kingdom growth.
THE INDIVIDUAL IS IGNORED:
Jesus ministered to crowds of people during His earthly ministry (Luke 6:17; 7:11; 8:37; 9:14-16; 14:26; 23:27; John 6:2). But Jesus never ignored the individual because of the crowds. He called individuals out of crowds to minister to them (John 5:3-13; Mark 5:24-34). In John 4, Jesus ministered to one woman who brought an entire village to the Master.
In Acts 8 there is the record of a great revival preached by Philip in the city of Samaria. In the middle of these meetings God spoke to Philip to leave Samaria and go to the desert between Jerusalem and Gaza.
Philip immediately left the great revival in which he was ministering. He went from a densely populated country to a lonely desert. He left the crowds in order to minister to one man, an Ethiopian returning home from Jerusalem. This one man was probably responsible for spreading the Gospel to the entire continent of Africa.
Many years ago in a missionary service in London, England, only two people attended because the weather was so bad. The visiting minister made a powerful appeal for workers among the Indians in North America but thought his time was wasted because of the low attendance.
But one of the two men heard God's call and yielded his life to Him. Within a month he had sold his business and was preparing himself to work among the Indians in North America. He spent 35 years in effective ministry among these people. His name was David Brainard.
Do not despise little things. Remember, a small candle can do what the sun can never do...it can shine at night.
EMPHASIS SHIFTS FROM PEOPLE TO THINGS:
When multiplication results in church growth, the emphasis sometimes changes from people to things. Because of growth, a bigger church building may be needed and efforts are shifted from multiplying disciples to a building program. When your chief concern is with buildings to accommodate growth, numbers have caused you to lose sight of the primary goal.
God is more interested in people than in buildings. The Biblical record of God at work in the world focuses on people. When multiplication results in a shift of emphasis from people to material things like buildings, priorities are wrong.
OTHERS ARE JUDGED ON THE BASIS OF NUMBERS:
Never judge the spirituality of another person or ministry by numbers. Great numbers are not always an indication of spirituality. Numeric success in some cases is mute testimony that the Church has failed to be the Church. Sometimes, faithfulness to the Word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ may repel rather than attract. For example, when Jesus began to teach the unpopular message of His death, many of His followers deserted Him (John 6:52-64).
There are other reasons why growth may not be evident. The Bible teaches there are certain seasons for spiritual growth just as there are in the natural world. In the natural world, during certain seasons of the year some plants do not reproduce. They have no leaves or fruit and look like a dead branch sticking out of the ground. But in the right season, these plants will blossom and fruit and leaves will come forth.
The same is true in the spiritual world. There are certain times when specific areas of the world are more receptive to the Gospel than others. By studying the patterns of growth you can concentrate your spiritual forces in fields "ripe unto harvest".
God's numeric system is not the same as that of man. We add in order to increase numbers. But sometimes God subtracts in order to add. When Ananias and Sapphira were subtracted from the church because of sin (Acts 5), believers were added (Acts 5:14). Sometimes God uses division to multiply. When Paul and Barnabas were divided, God multiplied the missionary force (Acts 15:36-41). Occasionally God reduces a number in order to accomplish a great purpose. Read the story of Gideon in Judges 7.
Never judge a ministry or an individual on the basis of numbers. Do not "despise" small things. When a young boy offered his bread and two tiny fish to Jesus it met the needs of a crowd of hungry people. God still takes insignificant things, blesses them, and uses them mightily for His glory.
COME FORTH BEARING SHEAVES
Fearing wrong emphasis on numbers should not prevent the study and application of multiplication methods. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) makes it clear that God expects you to multiply what you have been given and that fearful excuses are not acceptable. Jesus told His followers:
Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (John 4:35)
When God sends harvesters in to the spiritual fields of the world, He wants them to come out with sheaves, not excuses:
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
(Psalms 126:5-6)
SELF-TEST
1. Write the Key Verse from memory.
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2. Summarize the basic principles of multiplication taught in this lesson.
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3. Identify four types of spiritual growth.
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4. List some references which show that concern with multiplication is Scriptural.
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5. Summarize factors discussed in this lesson which reveal a wrong emphasis on numeric growth.
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6. TRUE OR FALSE: If the statement is True, write "True" on the blank in front of it. If the statement is false, write "False" on the blank in front of it:
a.________Concern with numbers is not Scriptural.
b.________If a church is not growing, they are not spiritual.
(Answers to tests are provided at the conclusion of the final chapter in this manual.)
FOR FURTHER STUDY
The book of Acts in the Bible tells the story of multiplication in the early church. Use the following outline to study this New Testament book. This outline follows the multiplication plan of the Lord given in Acts 1:8 for the extension of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Judaea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world.
Author of Acts: Luke
Written To: The book is written to all believers, although it is specifically addressed to Theophilus.
Purpose Of The Book: This is stated in Acts 1:1-2. The book concerns what Jesus continued to do and teach after His ascension through His spiritual Body, the Church.
Key Verse: Acts 1:8
OUTLINE
Introduction
Acts 1:1-ll
I. Introduction: 1:1-2
A. To: Theophilus: 1:1
B. Concerning: What Jesus continued to do and teach after His ascension through His spiritual Body, the Church: 1:1-2
II. The ministry of Jesus after the resurrection: 1:3
A. Its duration: Forty days: 1:3
B. Its purpose: Infallible proof: 1:3
C. Its message: The Kingdom Of God: 1:3
III. The final meeting of Jesus with His disciples: 1:4-8
A. The command to the disciples: 1:4-5
B. The question of the disciples: 1:6
C. The caution to the disciples: 1:7
D. The commission to the disciples: 1:8
IV. The ascension of Jesus into Heaven: 1:9-11
A. Description of the ascension: 1:9
B. Declaration of His second coming: 1:10-11
Part One: Forming The Witness In Jerusalem
Acts 1:12-7
I. The forming of the witness: 1:12-2:4
A. Christ's disciples waiting in Jerusalem: 1:12-26
l. The gathering of the disciples: 1:12-15
a. Their meeting place: 1:12-13
b. Their number and names: 1:13-15
c. Their purpose: 1:14
2. The exhortation given to the disciples: 1:15-22
a. The speaker: Peter: 1:15
b. The message 1:16-22
(l) Background: 1:16-20
(2) Instructions: 1:21-22
3. The response of the disciples: 1:23-26
a. The nomination: 1:23
b. The prayer: 1:14-25
c. The election: 1:26
B. The baptism in the Holy Spirit: 2:1-4
l. The occasion: 2:1
2. The people: 2:1
3. The place: 2:1
4. The event: 2:2-4
a. The wind: 2:2
b. The tongues as of fire: 2:3
c. Speaking in tongues: 2:4
Part Two: Functioning Of The Witness In Jerusalem
Acts 2:5-7
I. The first witness: 2:4-40
A. The manner in which the witness was given: 2:4-8
B. The reaction to the witness: 2:7-13
C. The sermon by Peter: 2:14-36
l. Prophecy concerning the time: 2:17
2. Prophecy concerning the spirit: 2: 17-18
3. Prophecy concerning the event: 2:19-20
4. Prophecy concerning salvation: 2:21
5. The work of Jesus: 2:22-36
a. Jesus was approved of God: 2:22
b. Jesus was crucified: 2:23
c. Jesus arose from the dead: 2:24-32
d. Jesus is exalted at God's right hand: 2:33-35
e. Jesus is now the Lord and Christ: 2:36
D. Response to the message: 2:37-40
l. Conviction: 2:37
2. Inquiry: 2:37
3. Instruction: 2:38
4. Promises: 2:38-39
5. Exhortation: 2:40
II. The first local church: 2:41-47
A. Membership of the first church: 2:41
l. Their identity: They which received the Word.
2. Their number: 3,000
B. Spiritual practices of the first church: 2:42
l. The apostles' doctrine.
2. The fellowship of the saints.
3. Communion.
4. Prayer.
C. The life pattern of the first church: 2:44-46
l. Voluntary communal system: 2:44-45
2. Daily worship and testimony: 2:46
3. Fellowship in the homes: 2:46
4. Unity: 2:46
D. The witness of the local church: 2:46-47
l. Nature of the witness: 2:46-47
2. Results of the witness: 2:47
III. The first miracle: 3:1-26
A. The miracle described: 3:1-11
l. The setting: 3:1
2. The man and his need: 3:2-3
3. The message: 3:4-6
4. The miracle: 3:7-8
5. The reaction of the multitude: 3:9-11
B. The miracle explained: 3:12-18
l. The man was not healed by the power of the apostles: 3:12
2. The man was healed by God for the purpose of glorifying Jesus: 3:13-15
3. The man was healed by faith in the name of Jesus: 3:16
4. The man was healed to demonstrate the fulfillment of prophecy: 3:17-18
C. The message of Peter: 3:19-26
l. The promise made by Peter: 3:19-21
a. What God challenged Israel to do: 3:19
b. What God promised He would do: 3:19-21
2. The prophecy of the prophets: 3:22-26
a. The prophecy by Moses and the prophets: 3:22-24
b. The promise of the covenant: 3:25
c. The plan of the Messiah: 3:26
IV. The first opposition: 4:1-31
A. The arrest: 4:1-4
l. Source of the opposition: 4:1
2. Reason for the opposition: 4:2
3. Form of the opposition: 4:3
B. The trial: 4:5-14
l. The court: 4:5-6
2. Questions of the court: 4:7
3. Statement by Peter: 4:8-12
a. Source of his answer: 4:8
b. His answer: 4:9-10
c. His testimony concerning Jesus: 4:10-12
d. His declaration concerning salvation: 4:12
4. The evidence considered by the court: 4:13-14
a. The character of the witnesses: 4:13
b. The testimony of the man who was healed: 4:14
5. The decision: 4:15-22
a. The consultation: 4:15-17
b. The decision: 4:17-18
c. The response of Peter and John: 4:19-20
d. The release: 4:21-22
6. The reaction: 4:21-31
a. The prayer of the church: 4:23-30
b. The activity of the church: 4:31
V. The first discipline of sin: 4:32-5:16
A. Organization of the church: 4:32-37
l. Its fellowship: 4:32
2. Its witness: 4:33
3. Its economy: 4:32-37
B. The first sin disrupting the fellowship: 5:1-10
l. The sin: 5:1-2
2. Exposure of the sin: 5:3-4
3. Disciplining of the sin: 5:5-10
C. The results of discipline: Fruitful witness of the fellowship: 5:11-16
l. Reverent attitude of the members: 5:11
2. Unity: 5:12
3. Miraculous signs: 5:12, 15-16
4. Community response: 5:12-14
VI. The first persecution: 5:17-43
A. Source of opposition: 5:17
B. Action of the opposition: 5:18
C. Deliverance by God: 5:19-26
l. His act: 5:19
2. His command: 5:20
3. Response to His command: 5:21
4. The discovery of His act: 5:21-23
5. The results of His act: 5:24-26
D. Trial: 5:27-40
l. Indictment by the Sanhedrin: 5:27-28
2. Defense made by Peter: 5:29-32
3. Investigation by the Sanhedrin: 5:33-39
4. Injustice of the decision of the Sanhedrin: 5:40
E. Response to persecution: 5:41-42
l. Rejoicing: 5:41
2. Unity: Met daily together: 5:42
3. Witnessing: Teaching and preaching: 5:42
VII. The first organization: 6:1-7
A. The need for the organization: 6:1
B. The organization suggested: 6:2-4
l. Source of the suggestion: 6:2
2. The reason for the suggestion: 6:2
3. The suggestion: 6:3
4. The advantage of the suggestion: 6:4
C. The organization set up: 6:5-6
l. The method used: 6:5-6
2. The men chosen: 6:5
3. Their ordination: 6:6
D. The results of the organization: 6:7
l. The word increased: 6:7
2. The disciples multiplied: 6:7
3. Obedience to the faith: 6:7
VIII. The first martyr: 6:8-8:1
A. The description of Stephen: 6:3-15
l. One of the seven: 6:3,5
2. Filled with the Holy Ghost: 6:5
3. A man of good reputation: 6:3
4. A man of faith: 6:5
5. A man of wisdom: 6:3, 10
6. A man with special power: 6:8
7. An effective witness: 6:9-10
B. The persecution of Stephen: 6:11-15
C. The message of Stephen: 7:1-53
l. Abraham: 7:1-8
2. The patriarchs: 7:9-16
3. Moses: 7:17-43
a. In Egypt: 7:17-28
b. In the wilderness: 7:29-43
4. The tabernacle: 7:44-50
a. Of Moses: 7:44
b. Of Joshua: 7:45
c. Of David: 7:45-46
d. Of Solomon: 7:47-50
e. Of God: 7:48-50
5. The prophets: 7:51-53
D. The witness of Stephen: 7:54-8:1
l. The attitude of the council: 7:54
2. The announcement by Stephen: 7:55-56
3. The action of the council: 7:57-59
4. The death of Stephen: 7:59-8:1
Part Three: The Witness In Judaea and Samaria
Acts 8-12
I. Transition: Results of the death of Stephen: 8:1-4
A. The persecution: 8:1,3
B. The burial of Stephen: 8:2
C. The extended witness of the church: 8:4
II. The witness of Philip: 8:5-40
A. Ministry in Samaria: 8:5-25
l. The witness of Philip: 8:5-13
a. The work of Philip: 8:5-7, 12
b. The response of the Samaritans: 8:6-12
c. Simon the Sorcerer: 8:9-13
2. The work Peter and John: 8:14-17
a. The coming of Peter and John: 8:14
b. The coming of the Holy Spirit: 8:15-17
c. The response of Simon: 8:18-19
d. The warning of Simon: 8:20-24
B. Ministry to the Ethiopian: 8:26-40
l. Preparation: 8:26-28
2. The witness: 8:29-35
3. The response: 8:36-38
C. Transition to Azotus: 8:39-40
III. The witness of Saul: 9:1-31
A. The conversion of Saul: 9:1-9
l. His purpose: 9:1-2
2. His vision: 9:3-9
3. The voice: 9:4-7
4. The blindness: 9:8-9
B. The commissioning of Saul through Ananias: 9:10-19
l. The call: 9:10-16
2. The commission: 9:17-19
C. The mission of Saul: 9:20-31
l. Saul at Damascus: 9:20-25
a. His witness: 9:20-22
b. The response: 9:21-23
c. His escape: 9:23-25
2. Saul at Jerusalem: 9:26-30
a. His reception: 9:26-28
b. His activity: 9:28-29
c. His departure: 9:29-30
D. Transition: Rest in the church: 9:31
IV. The witness of Peter: 9:32-12:35
A. At Lydda: 9:32-35
l. The believers: 9:32
2. The sick man: 9:33
3. Healing of the sick man: 9;34
4. The response: 9:35
B. At Joppa: 9:36-43
l. The death of Dorcus: 9:36-37
2. The call of Peter: 9:38-39
3. The ministry of Peter: 9:40-41
4. Response to the ministry: 9:42-43
C. At Caesarea: 10:1-48
l. Cornelius' vision: 10:1-8
a. The man Cornelius: 10:1-2
b. The vision of Cornelius: 10:3-6
c. The response of Cornelius: 10:7-8
2. Peter's vision: 10:9-22
a. The vision: 10:9-12
b. The voice: 10:13-16
3. The arrival of the messengers: 10:17-22
4. The visit to Cornelius' house: 10:23-48
a. The journey: 10:23
b. The reception: 10:24-27
c. The explanation: 10:27-28
d. The question: 10:29
e. The answer: 10:30-33
f. The unfinished sermon: 10:34-43
(1) God is no respecter of persons: 10:34-35
(2) Spread of the Gospel: 10:36-37
(3) The Gospel message: 10:38-43
g. The response of Cornelius: 8:44-48
D. At Jerusalem: 11:1-12:25
l. The problem of Gentile conversion: 11:1-18
a. The problem: 11:1-3
b. The explanation of God's work among the Gentiles: 11:4-17
(l) The vision: 11:4-10
(2) The visitors: 11:11
(3) The visit: 11:12-16
c. The decision: 4:18
V. The church in Antioch of Syria: 11:19-30
A. Evangelization of Antioch: 11:19-21
B. Visit by Barnabus: 11:22-24
C. Saul chosen as pastor-teacher: 11:25-26
D. Information revealed by Agabus: 11:27-30
VI. Persecution led by Herod: 12:1-25
A. The murder of James: 12:1-2
B. The arrest of Peter: 12:3-4
C. The deliverance of Peter 12:5-19
D. The death of Herod: 12:20-23
VII. The declaration of the Word: 12:24-25
Part Four: Witness To The Uttermost Parts Of The Earth
Acts 13-28
I. The first missionary journey: 13:1-14:28
A. The call to ministry: Acts 13:1-3
B. Ministry in Paphos in Cyprus: 13:4-12
C. Ministry in Antioch in Pisidia: 13:13-50
l. Transition to Pisidia: 13:13-16
2. The message: 13:17-37
a. The exodus deliverance: 13:17
b. The wilderness wanderings: 13:18
c. The conquest of Canaan: 13:19
d. The rule of Saul and David: 13:20-23
e. The ministry of John the Baptist: 13:24-25
f. Crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus: 13:26-37
g. The invitation: 13:38-41
3. The response: 13:42-50
D. Ministry in Iconium: 13:51-14:5
E. Ministry in Lystra: 14:6-25
F. Ministry in Syria: 14:26-28
II. The Jerusalem council: 15:1-35
A. The problem: 15:1-3
B. The sessions: 15:4-21
l. First public session: 15:4-5
2. Private session of the apostles and elders: 15:6
3. Second public session: 15:7-21
a. Peter's report: 15:7-11
b. Paul and Barnabas' report: 15:12
c. James' report: 15:13-21
C. The decision: 15:19-21
D. The letters: 15:22-35
III. Second missionary journey: 15:36-18:22
A. The argument: 15:36-41
B. Ministry at Lystra: 16:1-5
C. Ministry at Troas: 16:6-10
D. Ministry at Philippi: 16:11-40
E. Ministry at Thessalonica: 17:1-9
F. Ministry at Berea: 17:10-14
G. Ministry at Athens: 17:15-34
H. Ministry at Corinth: 18:1-18
I. Ministry at Ephesus: 18:19-21
J. Jerusalem and Antioch: 18:22
IV. Third missionary journey: 18:23-21:14
A. Asia Minor: 18:23
B. Ministry in Ephesus: 18:24-19:41
l. Apollos: 18:24-28
2. Disciples of John: 19:1-7
3. School of Tyranus: 19:8-12
4. The sons of Sceva: 19:13-17
5. Dedication of the converts: 19:18-20
6. The decision: 19:21
7. Defenders of Diana: 19:23-41
C. Ministry in Macedonia and Greece: 20:1-5
D. Ministry in Troas: 20:6-12
E. Ministry in Miletus: 20:13-38
l. The journey: 20:13-16
2. Meeting with the elders from Ephesus: 20:17-35
a. Review of his ministry: 20:17-21
b. Facing the future: 20:22-24
c. Paul's conscience: 20:25-27
d. The warning 20:28-31
e. Commended to God: 20:32
f. Paul's example in labor: 20:33-35
3. The farewell: 20:36-38
F. Ministry in Tyre: 21:1-6
G. Ministry in Ptolemias: 21:7
H. Ministry in Caesarea: 21:8-14
V. The final visit to Jerusalem and the trip to Rome: 21:15-28:31
A. Jerusalem: 21:15-23:32
l. Transition to Jerusalem: 21:15-17
2. Rumors against Paul: 21:18-30
a. That he had degraded the law of Moses: 21:18-26
b. That he had desecrated the Temple: 21:27-30
3. The reaction of Paul: 21:23-26
4. The rescue of Paul: 21:30-32
5. Replies by Paul: 21:33-23:10
a. The Jewish crowd: 22:1-23
b. The Roman centurion: 22:24-26
c. Chief captain: 22:26-30
d. The Sanhedrin: 23:1-10
(l) Paul's confession: 23:1
(2) Encounter with the high priest: 23:2-5
(3) A divided court: 23:6-10
6. The revelation to Paul: 23:11
7. Revenge against Paul: 23:12-15
8. Rescue of Paul: 23:16-32
a. The plot revealed: 23:16-22
b. The letter: 23:25-30
c. The escape: 23-32
B. Caesarea: 23:33-26:32
l. Before Felix: 23:33-24:27
a. The accusations of Tertulius: 24:1-9
b. The answer of Paul: 24:10-21
c. The response of Felix: 24:22-27
2. Before Festus: 25:1-12
3. Festus and Agrippa: 25:13-27
4. Before Agrippa: 26:1-32
a. Paul speaks for himself: 26:1-23
b. Invitation to the Savior: 26:24-29
c. The verdict: 26:30-32
C. Enroute to Rome: 27:17-28:31
l. The storm: 27:1-44
2. The serpent: 28:1-6
3. The healing: 28:7-10
4. The journey continues: 28:11-15
D. Rome: 28:16-31
l. Meeting with the Jews: 28:16-29
2. Ministry: 28:30-31
CHAPTER THREE
PARABLES OF MULTIPLICATION
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
-Write the Key Verse from memory.
-Define the word "parable".
-Explain why Jesus used parables.
-Identify principles of multiplication in parables taught by Jesus.
KEY VERSE:
And with many such parables spake He the Word unto them, as they were able to hear it. (Mark 4:33)
INTRODUCTION
This lesson focuses on principles of multiplication taught by Jesus during His earthly ministry. A parable is a story which uses an example from the natural world to illustrate a spiritual truth.
The actual meaning of the word "parable" is to "lay beside, to compare". In parables, Jesus compared natural examples with spiritual truths. A parable is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning.
WHY PARABLES?
The disciples once asked Jesus why He used parables to teach spiritual truths:
And the disciples came, and said unto Him, Why speaketh thou unto them in parables? (Matthew 13:10)
Jesus answered:
...Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given. (Matthew 13:11)
Understanding of spiritual truths taught in parables was given to the disciples because they had spiritual minds. Those without spiritual minds heard the parables and failed to understand them. Spiritual truths can only be understood by a spiritual mind:
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:14)
A spiritually minded man is one who has been born again spiritually. Those with spiritual minds understand the principles revealed in parables. Those with carnal, sinful minds cannot understand.
THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM
When Jesus commissioned His followers to reach the world with the Gospel message, He said...
And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14)
The Gospel you are to spread to the world is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Its message includes the birth, life, and ministry of Jesus. It includes His death for the sins of all mankind and His resurrection from the dead. You are to tell people how to enter the Kingdom of God through spiritual rebirth and teach them how to live the new life of the Kingdom.*
PARABLES OF MULTIPLICATION
Jesus told many parables about the Kingdom of God. Among them were parables about how the Kingdom would spread throughout the world. The following parables about the growth of the Kingdom reveal basic principles of multiplication. Look up each reference in your Bible and read the parable:
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* Further instruction on this subject is given in the Harvestime International Institute course entitled "Kingdom Living".
The Lost Sheep: Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:4-7
The Lost Coin: Luke 15:8-10
The Lost Son: Luke 15:11-32
These parables reveal God's concern for the lost and the urgency with which you should seek to bring them into the Kingdom of God. It does not matter why they are lost. The sheep had wandered away. The coin was lost through carelessness. The son was lost through his own rebellion. You are to make every effort to find those lost in sin. You are to go where they are, not wait for them to come to you. God is not concerned with how men are lost, only that they be found.
The Empty Banquet Table: Luke 14:15-23
Multiplication should not stop just because some refuse to respond to the invitation of the Gospel. You are to seek the spiritually hungry and bring them into the banquet prepared by the Lord.
The Barren Fig Tree: Luke 13:6-9
Jesus told a parable about a barren fig tree. The fig tree is a natural symbol of the nation of Israel. God raised up Israel as the nation through which He could reveal the Kingdom to the world. God tried to get the "tree" of Israel to bring forth "fruit" among heathen nations by sharing their knowledge of the true God. But Israel remained barren and unfruitful.
Now God has raised up the Church for this purpose. God nurtures believers in an attempt to make them productive, just as He did the nation of Israel. His purpose is the same: We are to bring forth "fruit" among the heathen by sharing our knowledge of the true God. God is not pleased with trees that produce no fruit.
The Talents: Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27
The Man On A Long Journey: Mark 13:34-37
The Servants: Matthew 24:43-51; Luke 12:39-46
The Watching Servants: Luke 12:36-38
The Faithful Manager: Matthew 25:14-30
These "servant" parables emphasize wise stewardship of the message of the Kingdom which has been entrusted to believers. Each believer is given "talents" or special abilities to use in spreading the Gospel. Whether your abilities are great or small, you must multiply what God has given you.
Each servant is required to multiply. When Jesus returns to earth, those who have properly used their abilities will be rewarded (Luke 16:10-12). Those who have not multiplied are considered unfaithful:
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.
(Matthew 16:27)
Jesus recognized the principle of percentage in the multiplication process:
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48)
The Kingdom of God is spread by wise use of the spiritual talents given by God. If you use what God has given you, your talents will increase. If you do not use it, you will lose it.
The Sower: Matthew 13:3-8; Mark 4:3-8; Luke 8:5-8
The Gospel of the Kingdom is spread by sowing the seed of the Word of God. There can be no multiplication without the Word. The fruit depends on the life that is in the seed itself (the Word of God) and the response of the soil (man's response to the Word of God). There will be varied responses to this sowing of the Word.
Your responsibility is to sow. As you sow the seed of the Word of God, some soil is ready and yields a harvest. Other soil is not responsive and yields very little. Even Jesus encountered unresponsive soils in His earthly ministry:
And He could do there (his own country) no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk and healed them.
And He marveled because of their unbelief...(Mark 6:5-6)
The Tares And The Wheat: Matthew 13:24-30
As you multiply the Kingdom by adding new believers, Satan will try to defeat the process. He will sow people described as "weeds" among the good seed of God's Kingdom.
Some of the people who profess to be believers and come into the church through multiplication are not sincere. They are "weeds" planted by Satan.
Jesus does not want you to spend time and effort trying to separate the weeds from the wheat. Keep sowing the seed and multiplying. In the day of harvest when Jesus returns, the weeds will be separated from the harvest.
The Fishing Net: Matthew 13:47-50
Jesus compared the growth of the Kingdom of God to a great net thrown into the sea. All kinds of fish enter, but when the net is drawn to shore the good fish are separated from the bad.
The Kingdom will draw in men and women from all nations. Many will enter. Some will be sincere, others will not. In the final day of judgment when God draws in the net, the good and bad "fish" will be separated. You are not called to separate, you are called to fish.
The Mustard Seed: Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:31-32; Luke 13:19
The Kingdom of God will multiply like mustard seed. The mustard seed is very small in the beginning, but in maturity it grows to great size. The Kingdom of God on earth had a small beginning. When Jesus returned to Heaven after His earthly ministry, He left behind a small group of followers to spread the Gospel. That small group of believers has multiplied to thousands of followers in many nations.
The Leaven: Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21
Like leaven in a lump of dough, the Kingdom of God will multiply to spread throughout the whole "lump" of the world. Like leaven, the power of the Kingdom is not external but it is internal.
The Vine And The Branches: John 15:1-16
This parable describes the relationship between Jesus and the fruit-bearing process. He is the spiritual vine and we are the branches. You cannot bear fruit alone. You are reproductive only as you are attached to the life flow of the branch, Jesus. Jesus wants to prune your life of everything that is not reproductive so you will bring forth spiritual fruit that remains.
The Harvest: Matthew 9:37-38; Luke 10:2
In this parable, the field is the world. The harvest is the multitudes of men and women ready to respond to the Gospel message. A great harvest waits to be reaped by the spiritual laborers of God.
OTHER MULTIPLICATION PRINCIPLES
Jesus taught other multiplication principles in brief statements:
Light Of The World: Matthew 5:14-16; Luke 8:16
The Kingdom will multiply as believers appear like lights from a city located on high ground which can be seen from miles around. We are to bring the light of the world (Jesus) to a world filled with spiritual darkness. The Kingdom will multiply as people are drawn to the light.
Salt Of The Earth: Luke 14:34
In Bible times, salt was rubbed into meat to preserve it from decay. Believers are the "salt" to be rubbed into the world with the message of preservation (salvation). The Kingdom will multiply as men are saved from the "decay" (spiritual death) of sin.
Treasures In Heaven: Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:15
Believers are not to be concerned with multiplying treasures of the world. The multiplication to which you are called is spiritual multiplication. As you share the Gospel, you multiply your spiritual treasures in Heaven.
The Broad Gate: Matthew 7:14
You cannot judge the right way in terms of numbers only. The way to Hell draws many while the way to eternal life is found by few.
Many Works: Matthew 7:22
Many wonderful works will be done by many people. On the surface there will be growth and multiplication. But doing many great works is not necessarily the same as doing God's will and accomplishing His purposes. God's work must be done by His people in His way.
Little Is Much: Matthew 10:42; Matthew 14:15-21
Everything done in the name of Jesus, even that which seems small, is productive. The miracle of the loaves and fishes illustrate how God multiplies and uses what little we have to offer.
Growth Requires Change: Mark 2:21-22; 7:13
New growth requires change. You cannot contain the new in old vessels of tradition and sinful lifestyles. The powerful potential of the Word of God is hindered by men who cling to traditions and refuse to change.
Gain By Losing: Mark 8:34-37; 10:29-30
Receive By Giving: Luke 6:38
Worldly principles teach that you gain by obtaining more and more. Jesus taught that you gain everything when you lose everything. What appears to be loss in the natural world is gain in the spiritual world.
Death Brings Life: John 12:24
Through the death of Jesus, many received eternal life. To multiply, a seed must die. Through death comes life. To be a reproductive disciple you must die to the desires of your flesh. You must be "dead" to sin. You must abandon your own way to follow Jesus.
The Church On The Rock: Matthew 16:18
The Kingdom of God is founded on the rock Christ Jesus. There is no growth without Him. Jesus said, "I will build my Church". He said no man could enter into it unless the Father draws him (John 6:44).
Opposition was to be expected, but the "gates of Hell" cannot defeat the plan of God for the growth of His Kingdom:
With men, this is impossible; but with God, all things are possible.
(Matthew 19:26)
...all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:23)
THE GREATEST PRINCIPLE OF MULTIPLICATION
The greatest principle of multiplication taught by Jesus was given in His final words to the disciples. His command revealed the basic plan for the spread of the Gospel and the multiplication of converts and disciples:
Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
(Matthew 28:19-20)
Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
(Mark 16:15)
And He said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
And ye are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:46-48)
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
SUMMARY
The teachings of Jesus reveal that He is not pleased with:
-Fishing without catching.
-An empty banquet table.
-Sowing without reaping.
-A tree that bears no fruit.
-Lost sheep not brought into the fold.
-A lost coin that is sought but not found.
-Lost sons that do not return.
-Unproductive servants.
-Unresponsive spiritual soil.
-Ripe harvests that are not reaped.
Our Father, who is not willing that one person should perish, is interested in results through spiritual multiplication:
Even so, it is not the will of your Father which is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:14)
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)
SELF-TEST
1. Write the Key Verse from memory.
_______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Define the word "parable".
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Why did Jesus use parables to teach His followers?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. On a separate paper, briefly describe the multiplication principle taught in each of the following parables:
The empty banquet table:
The barren fig tree:
The lost sheep, coin, and son:
The servant parables:
The sower:
The tares and the wheat:
The fishing net:
The mustard seed:
The leaven:
The vine and the branches:
(Answers to tests are provided at the conclusion of the final chapter in this manual.)
FOR FURTHER STUDY
1. From age 12 to the start of Christ's public ministry, the Bible does not give a detailed account of what occurred in His life during this time. Only one verse reveals the spiritual growth process occurring during this period:
And the child (Jesus) grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (Luke 2:40)
To be effective, spiritual growth must always precede public ministry.
2. As the end of time approaches, Satan will use his own principles of multiplication. Study the following references:
-Many false prophets shall arise: Matthew 24:11
-Many people will be deceived: Matthew 24:11
-Iniquity will increase: Matthew 24:12
-Many will fall away from the truth of the Gospel: II Thessalonians 2:3
-Persecution of believers will increase: Matthew 24:9-10
-Profane and vain babblings will increase: II Timothy 2:16
CHAPTER FOUR
ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS MORE THAN TWO
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
∙ Write the Key Verse from memory.
∙ Define the word "witness".
∙ Define the term "laity".
∙ Define the term "clergy".
∙ Explain what is meant by the "calling" of the laity.
∙ Explain God's plan of multiplication for the spread of the Gospel.
∙ Name two New Testament men used as examples of this multiplication process.
∙ Explain how to get started in spiritual multiplication.
∙ Begin to multiply spiritually.
KEY VERSE:
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
(II Timothy 2:2)
INTRODUCTION
Growth in the human body starts with one cell of life. That cell multiplies over and over again until a human baby is formed. After birth, the process continues in the child. Human cells continue to multiply and growth occurs. The same is true in the spiritual world. Each person who has experienced new life in Jesus is similar to a living cell in the human body. Each believer must reproduce spiritually. The Gospel is spread as believers continue to multiply in this way.
This chapter reveals your personal responsibility in this spiritual process. You will learn of the plan of God for spiritual multiplication which makes "1 plus 1" more than two.
THE CHALLENGE
The challenge of Jesus to believers is to reach the entire world with the Gospel (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). Today we live in a growing world. Thousands of new human beings are born each day. The population of the world is increasing rapidly.
There are many unreached people groups in the world who have never heard about Jesus. These groups consist of millions of individuals who have not yet been reached with the Gospel. Many villages and communities have no church. In many nations, there are not enough trained pastors for the churches that do exist.
How can we ever achieve this great challenge of Jesus to reach the whole world with the Gospel?
GOD'S PLAN
God has a special plan for reaching the world with the Gospel. Jesus summarized it when He told His disciples...
But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Here is God's plan: The Holy Spirit is the divine power behind the multiplication process, Jesus Christ is the content of the message, and the whole world is to be the recipient of the message.
Disciples are the agents of multiplication. God's method is for each disciple to bear "witness" of the Gospel message. To "witness" is to tell what you have seen, heard, or experienced. In a court of law, a witness is one who testifies about someone or something. As a witness, you are to testify about Jesus and His plan for the salvation of all mankind. There are two kinds of evidence presented by witnesses in a court of law. One is testimony which is verbal witness about the subject. The other is evidence which is visible proof.
The Holy Spirit helps you bear witness to the Gospel both verbally and through the demonstration of God's power.
DIVISION BETWEEN CLERGY AND LAITY
God's plan is for each disciple (believer) to be a witness of the Gospel. The early church grew as they followed this plan. Each believer shared the Gospel and was reproductive spiritually. Their homes became centers of multiplication (you will learn more about this in a later chapter). The church grew and multiplied as individual believers bore witness to the Gospel.
As the church grew, God called some people to serve full-time as pastors, evangelists, prophets, teachers, and apostles. Over a period of time, believers became part of one of two divisions in the church. They were either "clergy" or "laity".
The word "laity" comes from a Greek word which means "belonging to the chosen people of God". The basic meaning of the word is "all the people of God". The terms "layman" or "laity" came to be used for those who were not serving in special full-time functions in the church.
The term "clergy" developed to identify professional ministers in the church. Clergy refers to those who consider the ministry their profession and who usually are employed full-time by the church. They may or may not be ordained by a denomination.
Over a period of time in church history, a gradual separation developed between clergy and laity. Many laymen stopped reproducing spiritually. They began to leave the challenge of reaching the world to the full-time clergy.
No professional clergy can ever accomplish what the entire Church was commissioned to do. This is one of the reasons we have not yet reached the world with the Gospel. Believers have shifted their personal responsibility to the clergy. The Bible does teach division of labor in the Church, but every person is to be involved in the spread of the Gospel. (Read Acts 6:1-6).
As the church at Jerusalem multiplied, it became necessary for a division of labor to meet all the needs in the church. The leaders gave themselves full-time to study of the Word and prayer. Laymen performed duties like ministering to the widows and other such tasks of serving. But although believers served in different offices in the church, they were all involved in the spread of the Gospel.
Stephen was one of the laymen chosen for serving tasks, yet he bore powerful witness to the Gospel (Acts 6:8-11). Philip was another layman chosen for serving tasks. He shared the Gospel with the Samaritans (Acts 8:5-12).
When persecution came in Jerusalem and believers scattered to other cities they continued to be witnesses of the Gospel:
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. (Acts 8:4)
For true believers, there is no division between sacred and secular because Jesus is Lord of all.
THE CALLING OF THE LAITY
If you are to really understand the spiritual call of the laity, you must go back to the Old Testament. God's plan was for the entire nation of Israel to be "priests" or ministers:
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation...
(Exodus 19:6)
As priests, each person in Israel was to be a witness of the one true God to unbelievers around him.
The establishing of an official priesthood did not change God's plan for Israel. The priesthood was like the "clergy" of today with special leadership roles. But the entire nation was still to serve as ministers of the message of God to heathen nations.
In the New Testament, believers are given a similar calling. They are to be priests or ministers of the Gospel:
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praise of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (I Peter 2:9)
The calling of believers is to bear witness of God who has brought them out of spiritual darkness into the "light" of Jesus Christ (John 9:5).
Believers are told to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Ephesians 4:1). There is one calling and that is to bear witness to the Gospel message. It is the vocation of all believers. Each person is accountable for their response to this call.
The call is not based on education or natural ability. God uses ordinary laymen in order that He alone may receive the glory:
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are. That no flesh should glory in His presence. (I Corinthians 1:26-29)
THE MULTIPLICATION PROCESS
In the Bible, God reveals a special plan to enable believers to fulfill their calling. Multiplication is a basic principle of all growth in the natural world. Growth does not take place by adding just one unit to another. Living cells multiply. Each new cell produced has the ability to reproduce.
God's plan of multiplication is similar in the spiritual world. Paul summarized this plan when he wrote these words to Timothy:
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
(II Timothy 2:2)
Paul told Timothy to select faithful men and commit to them the things he had been taught by Paul. These faithful men were to have the ability to teach others. Through this organized plan of reproduction, the Gospel would spread throughout the world.
To see how God's plan of multiplication works, study the chart on the following page. This chart uses the period of a year as the average time necessary to convert someone to the Gospel and train him to be a reproductive Christian. In reality, the process could take more or less time, depending on the person involved, so it is not possible to set a firm time limit. But if a believer would reach just one person and disciple them each year and have them pledge to disciple one person each year, the world could easily be reached with the Gospel message.
Observe on the chart that during the first year the believer is discipling one person. At the end of that year, there are now two faithful men, the believer and the new convert he has discipled. (You will learn more about this process of discipling later in this course.) During the next year, each of them reach one person with the Gospel and disciple them. At the end of the second year, there is a total of four people, each of whom will disciple one person the following year.
DISCIPLER(S) DISCIPLE(S) TOTAL
YEAR 17 65,536 65,536 = 131,072
YEAR 16 32,768 32,768 = 65,536
YEAR 15 16,384 16,384 = 32,768
YEAR 14 8,192 8,192 = 16,384
YEAR 13 4,096 4,096 = 8,192
YEAR 12 2,048 2,048 = 4,096
YEAR 11 1,024 1,024 = 2,048
YEAR 10 512 512 = 1,024
YEAR 9 256 256 = 512
YEAR 8 128 128 = 256
YEAR 7 64 64 = 128
YEAR 6 32 32 = 64
YEAR 5 16 16 = 32
YEAR 4 8 8 = 16
YEAR 3 4 4 = 8
YEAR 2 2 2 = 4
YEAR 1 1 1 = 2
GOD'S DIVINE STRATEGY OF MULTIPLICATION AND MOBILIZATION
Now, take an average church membership of approximately 100 people. Increase this chart to 100 people each reaching one person with the Gospel and training them to be reproductive and you can see how we could easily reach the entire world with the Gospel. Multiplication is faster than addition. Here is a diagram that illustrates addition:
Addition: 1+1+1+1+1...continue to grow one by one
Here is a diagram that illustrates multiplication. In this process, each person goes on to multiply himself and "one plus one" results in more than just two:
Multiplication:1x1x1x1x1...you continue to multiply
x x x x x
1 1 1 1 1...each one you reach continues to multiply
x x x x x
1 1 1 1 1
x x x x x
. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . .
c c c c c...each one they reach continue to multiply
o o o o o
n n n n n
t t t t t
i i i i i
n n n n n
u u u u u
e e e e e
s s s s s
THE PROCESS IN THE EARLY CHURCH
The following diagram shows the first stages of multiplication resulting from Andrew, one of the first disciples of Jesus:
Andrew➔Peter➔Others➔Others
➴
Pentecost➔Others➔Others
1. Andrew shared the Gospel with his brother, Peter.
2. Peter shared the Gospel on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem.
3. Peter continues to share the Gospel with others who also become reproductive.
4. Thousands of believers scattered from Jerusalem continue to spread the Gospel.
5. Each person they reach becomes reproductive and the process continues.....
Here is a diagram showing the first stages of spiritual multiplication resulting from the Apostle Paul:
Ananias➔Paul➔Others➔Others
➴
Timothy➔Others➔Others
➴
Faithful men➔Others➔Others
1. Ananias is used of God to raise up Paul.
2. Paul disciples Timothy.
3. Paul continues on to disciple others.
4. Timothy disciples "faithful men" who can teach others.
5. Faithful men reach others.
6. These "others" continue the multiplication process.
7. Each person in the network continues to multiply.
ORDINARY PEOPLE
The Bible tells little about the man named Ananias referred to in the above diagram. He was not known of man, but he was used of God to raise up the Apostle Paul. Andrew was a common, uneducated fisherman. But look at the chain of spiritual multiplication for which he was responsible!
You may not be well known by man. You may not be well known in your community or church denomination. You may be an ordinary person who works at ordinary tasks. But God can use you to multiply disciples.
Read the story of the healing of the lame man in Acts 4. When Peter and John appeared before the Council, it was obvious that they were uneducated, common men:
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.
And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. (Acts 4:13-14)
These "common" men had received new life through Jesus Christ. The life within them resulted in spiritual reproduction. Jesus entrusted the laity with the responsibility of spreading the Gospel. He took fishermen from their boats and made them into fishers of men. He believed that ordinary people could become extra-ordinary when empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Gideon was a farmer. Paul was a tentmaker. Moses was a shepherd. Luke was a doctor and Joseph was a great political statesman. Whatever your education or occupation, God can use you in His plan.
Where you are and who you are is not important. It is what you are doing where God has placed you. The key to effective spiritual multiplication is to be God's man or woman, in God's place, doing God's work, God's way.
HOW TO BEGIN
The New Testament reveals that the Gospel spreads the most rapidly along existing social networks. By this we mean that you can spread the Gospel easiest to your own social group of friends, relatives, and co-workers.
For example, Jesus called one fisherman named Andrew. Andrew shared the Gospel with a relative named Peter. They shared with other fishermen with whom they worked. Soon a whole group of fishermen were following Jesus.
In daily life and work the laity is not just fragments of the church scattered in the community who come together for worship and fellowship. Laymen are ambassadors of the Kingdom to their relatives, friends, and co-workers. The world of work, school, family, and community is your arena of ministry.
In Luke 16:19-31 read the story of the rich man who went to Hell. This man wanted to return to share the Gospel with his family but it was too late. Do not wait until it is too late to share the Gospel with those in your own social network.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND MULTIPLICATION
The true evidence of baptism in the Holy Ghost is becoming a powerful witness of the Gospel. The power of the Holy Spirit enables believers to multiply spiritually (Acts 1:8).
One way the Holy Ghost empowers believers is through spiritual gifts. Each believer is given spiritual gifts to equip him to minister to others. These gifts are supernatural abilities given by the Holy Spirit.
If you do not know what spiritual gifts God has given you, order the Harvestime International Institute course entitled "Ministry of The Holy Spirit". This course deals with the subject of spiritual gifts.
A MODERN EXAMPLE
Nothing can defeat God's plan of multiplication of the Gospel through the witness of individual believers. Here is a modern example:
After years of missionary work in the nation of China, the church numbered fewer than one million when missionaries were expelled by the government. Pastors were imprisoned, Bibles burned, and churches closed. But thirty years later, when a measure of openness returned to China and reports were available, the number of believers was estimated to be from 10 to 50 million.
Although the churches had been closed and pastors imprisoned, ordinary believers continued to reproduce spiritually. Nothing can stop God's plan for the spread of the Gospel.
GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM
Every believer must become reproductive. But mere multiplication of believers is not enough. Believers must become a functional part of the Church which is the corporate body uniting all true believers. The Church must also multiply itself. The Church must experience internal spiritual growth and progress on to expansion, extension and bridging forms of growth. You have learned of your responsibility to multiply individually. In the following chapters you will learn how to multiply corporately within the context of the local church.
SELF-TEST
1. Write the Key Verse from memory.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. Define the word "witness".
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Define the term "laity".
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. Define the term "clergy".
_______________________________________________________________________________
5. Explain what is meant by the "calling" of the laity.
_______________________________________________________________________________
6. What is God's plan of multiplication for the spread of the Gospel?
_______________________________________________________________________________
7. What two New Testament men were named as examples of spiritual multiplication?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
8. What is the best way to get started in spiritual multiplication?
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Answers to tests are provided at the conclusion of the final chapter in this manual.)
FOR FURTHER STUDY
1. In the last chapter you studied parables of multiplication. Review the following parables again. In these parables each individual was responsible to faithfully multiply:
-The talents: Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27
-The man on a long journey: Mark 13:34-37
-The servants: Matthew 24:43-52; Luke 12:39-46
-The watching servants: Luke 12:36-38
-The faithful manager: Matthew 25:14-20
2. Read the conversation between Jesus and Peter in John 21:15-22. In Acts 10:22 read the words Jesus spoke to Paul at the time of his conversion.
Your concern should not be with whether or not others fulfill their responsibility to spread the Gospel. You should not question like Peter, "What shall this man do?" Your concern should be as Paul, "What shall I do, Lord?"
CHAPTER FIVE
AN INTRODUCTION TO CHURCH GROWTH
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
∙ Write the Key Verse from memory.
∙ Identify the true Church.
∙ Explain how the Church started.
∙ List illustrations used in the Bible to describe the Church.
∙ Identify Scriptural purposes of the Church.
∙ Identify four types of Church growth.
∙ Summarize the ministries of the Holy Spirit in relation to church growth.
KEY VERSE:
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)
INTRODUCTION
In the last chapter you learned of the responsibility of each believer to multiply spiritually by sharing the Gospel message. God has a special plan for new believers raised up by this process. They are to become part of a fellowship of believers known as the Church. Believers are to reproduce individually within the context of the Church. As new believers are born again into the Kingdom of God, the Church is multiplied.
This chapter introduces God's plan for the Church as a center of spiritual multiplication. The following four chapters deal with specific types of church growth.
THE CHURCH
When we speak of the "Church", we are not talking about a man-made organization or denomination. It is not a product of history or the result of a plan thought up by man.
The word "Church" actually means "the called out ones". When we speak of the Church, we are talking about the world-wide fellowship of all true believers who have been called out of the world into the Kingdom of God.
For purposes of ministry, this world-wide fellowship of believers is divided into local groups of believers. These local groups are also called the Church. Some of these local groups have remained independent. Others have joined together in organizations such as the Assemblies Of God, Baptist, Methodist, etc.
You do not become part of the true Church by joining an organization. You become part of the true Church by being born again into the Kingdom of God. This is done by confessing and repenting from sin and accepting Jesus as your personal Saviour. After you become a believer, God's plan is for you to become part of a local fellowship of believers which is part of the true Church.
HOW THE CHURCH BEGAN
In the Old Testament the nation of Israel was chosen as the group of people through which God would reveal Himself to the nations of the world. Over and over, Israel failed in this responsibility.
In New Testament times when Jesus came to earth, Israel rejected Him as their Messiah. Because of this, God raised up another group of people through which to reveal Himself to the world. That group is called the Church.
The first mention of the word "Church" is when Jesus explained how the Church would be built:
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)
In this passage Jesus revealed that Peter would be one of the spiritual foundation stones of the first church. This meant he would be important in its growth and development. Peter's name actually meant "a rock or a stone".
Jesus then said of Himself, "...upon THIS rock I will build my Church". He indicated that the Church would be established upon Him. He would be THE rock upon which the Church was built. There would be many other lesser stones (people like Peter). In fact, believers are called "living stones" which are part of the structure of the Church:
Ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
(I Peter 2:5)
The foundation of these "living stones" is a "Rock". That Rock is Jesus and it defines the limits of the Church. A Church is not a true Church unless it is built upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
Over the years many different church denominations have developed for purposes of organization and ministry. But if they are a true Church founded on Christ, they are all part of the one world-wide fellowship of believers:
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)
Jesus said the "gates of Hell " would not prevail against the true Church. This implied that the Church would experience great opposition from Satan, but would not be defeated.
The book of Acts in the Bible records the first opposition to the Church (Acts 8). Throughout history to the present time, the Church has received much opposition. But the Church still exists and it will continue to exist. It will fulfill the purposes of God.
HOW THE CHURCH IS DESCRIBED
The Bible uses several illustrations to describe the Church. These examples reveal much about the structure and purpose of the Church. Look up each of the following references in your Bible. The Church is described as:
A new man: Ephesians 2:14-15
The Body of Christ: Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:30; I Corinthians 12:27
The temple or building of God: Ephesians 2:21-22; I Corinthians 3:9,16: I Timothy 3:15; I Peter 2:5
A royal priesthood: I Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10
The Bride of Christ: II Corinthians 11:2; Matthew 25:6; Ephesians 5:22-32
The household of God: Ephesians 2:19
The flock of God: John 10:1-29; I Peter 5:3-4; Hebrews 13:20; Acts 20:28
There is one Church but it is referred to in the Bible in different ways. It is called:
The Church of God: Acts 20:28; I Corinthians 1:2;10:32; 11:22; 15:9; I Timothy 3:5; I Thessalonians 2:14
The Church of the living God: I Timothy 3:15
The Church of Christ: Romans 16:16
The Church of the firstborn: Hebrews 12:23
The Church of the Saints: I Corinthians 14:33
The people of God: Hebrews 4:9; I Peter 2:9-10
SCRIPTURAL PURPOSES FOR THE CHURCH
There are many purposes of the Church revealed in the Bible. Its members are to be engaged in:
WORSHIP OF GOD:
The greatest purpose for which man was created was to worship God. Worship is a central purpose of the Church. Study the following verses: I Peter 2:5,9; I Corinthians 14:26-27; John 4:23-24; Ephesians 2:19-22.
SERVICE WITHIN THE BODY:
Members of the Church are to serve by ministering to needs of each other:
-These needs may be material needs: Acts 11:27-30; Acts 6:1-6.
-Members are to freely share their substance with others: Acts 2:44;4:32, 34,37
-Members should also show care for the spiritual needs within the Body of Christ: John 15:1-7; Romans 15:1-15; I Corinthians 3:9; Galatians 6:1; Colossians 2:16-23; I Thessalonians 2:7-16.
FELLOWSHIP:
-The fellowship of the Church is based on unity in Christ: Ephesians 4:4-6
-The Church is made one in Christ: Ephesians 2:11-18. Each member is equal before the Lord: Ephesians 2:19-20.
-The Church is to be a community of fellowship in word, prayer, and deed: Acts 2:41-47; 4:24,32-33; Ephesians 2:20-22; I John.
-Their fellowship is to be united with one purpose, mind, soul, and heart: Acts 1:14; 2:46; 4:24,32; 5:12; 15:25
The fellowship is not only to be within individual churches but also between churches. Study the following verses which illustrate the close fellowship between the early churches:
-They recognized they were one in Christ with a common bond: Acts 15:1; Romans 15:26-27
-They regularly communicated with one another: Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 16:19-20; Philippians 4:23
-They helped one another: Romans 15:26; I Corinthians 16:1-3.
-They supported the apostles' labor in other fields: Philippians 4:15-16
-They shared letters from the apostles: Colossians 4:16.
-They sent representatives to one another: Acts 11:22,23,27; 15:1,2; I Corinthians 16:3,4
-They encouraged one another as models of the faith: II Corinthians 1:24; 9:2; I Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:14
-They cooperated in the common cause of evangelism: I Thessalonians 1:8.
MISSION:
The Church exists for mission, not just for meetings of worship and fellowship. The purpose of both Israel in the Old Testament and the Church in the New Testament was to reveal God to the world.
In the Old Testament, Israel was to be a witness to the heathen nations around them. The strategy of God was for nations to come and see His power revealed in Israel. In the New Testament, God's strategy was different. His plan was for the Church to go to the nations as His witnesses.
The true mission of the Church is summarized in Ephesians:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord; (Ephesians 3:10-ll)
Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He hath purposed in Himself:That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him. (Ephesians 1:9-10)
The mission of the Church is summarized as follows:
1. The Church is to present Jesus to the world as Lord and Savior. The Church is to lead people into right relationship with Jesus so they may experience forgiveness of sins and new life.
2. Through water baptism teaching, and preaching, the Church is to establish believers in the doctrine, principles, and practices of Christian living. They are to teach converts to "observe all things" commanded in the Word of God.
3. The Church is to organize new believers into functioning local fellowships.
4. These established church are then to repeat this process to win new believers and establish new fellowships.
Study more about the mission of the Church in the following verses:
To spread the Gospel to the world: Matthew 5:13-14; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-49; John 20:19-23; Acts 1:8.
To serve as salt of the earth and light of the world: Matthew 5:13-16; Philippians 2:14-16: I John 4:1.
To disciple new converts: Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 20:27-28; Ephesians 4:11-16; I Peter 5:1-3.
TYPES OF CHURCH GROWTH
If the Church fulfills its Scriptural purposes, four types of growth will result:
INTERNAL GROWTH:
Internal growth refers to the spiritual growth of the people within the church.
EXPANSION GROWTH:
Expansion growth is growth in numbers which occurs when the mission of evangelism is fulfilled by the Church. New believers are won and incorporated in to the Body of Christ.
EXTENSION GROWTH:
A church extends when it starts new churches in similar cultures.
BRIDGING GROWTH:
Bridging growth occurs when the Gospel is shared across cultural boundaries with people of another race, ethnic group, or nation.
Here is a diagram that illustrates the different types of Church growth:
Internal:
➔❍
Expansion:
❍➔
Extension:
❍➔❍
Bridging:
❍➔□
You will study each of these types of growth in the next four chapters which concern multiplication within the local Church.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND CHURCH GROWTH
The Holy Spirit is the spiritual power behind all types of church growth:
But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts l:8)
This verse shows how the Holy Spirit enables:
Internal growth: The disciples would receive a new spiritual experience in this special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This would enable them to become powerful witnesses of the Gospel.
Expansion Growth: The church would multiply in Jerusalem.
Extension Growth: The Church would extend to plant new churches in other similar cultures (Judaea).
Bridging Growth: The Church would bridge cultural gaps to reach other regions like Samaria and the "uttermost parts of the earth".
The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit has many ministries. He was active in the creation of the world, was the inspiring force of the written Word of God, was active in the earthly life and ministry of Jesus, and serves many functions on behalf of the believer.
The Holy Spirit reveals the truth of the Gospel and draws men and women to salvation. The Holy Spirit even has a ministry concerning Satan. He is the restraining spiritual force that limits the power of Satan (Isaiah 49:19). Each of His ministries are discussed in detail in the Harvestime International Institute Course entitled "Ministry Of The Holy Spirit".
The Holy Spirit also has specific ministries affecting the growth and development of the Church:
THE HOLY SPIRIT FORMED THE CHURCH:
On the Day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2:1-41 the Holy Spirit formed the Church. The Bible teaches that the Church is the habitation of God built by the Holy Spirit:
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto a holy temple in the Lord;
In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
THE SPIRIT INSPIRES WORSHIP:
The worship of the Church should be inspired by the Holy Spirit:
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.
God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. (John 4:23-24)
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)
THE SPIRIT DIRECTS MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES:
This is evident in the record of the missionary activities of the first Church:
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. (Acts 8:29)
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; but the Spirit suffered them not.
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. (Acts 16:6,7, 10)
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. (Acts 13:2,4)
THE SPIRIT SELECTS MINISTERS:
Some denominations appoint or elect ministers to serve in the Church. Many people go to college or seminary to be trained as ministers. But the requirement set by Scriptures is that ministers be called and selected by the Holy Spirit:
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28)
THE SPIRIT ANOINTS PREACHERS:
Paul wrote:
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
(I Corinthians 2:4)
THE SPIRIT GUIDES DECISIONS:
Acts chapter 15 records a special meeting of leaders to discuss various problems in the Church. Their final decision was guided by the Holy Spirit:
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. (Acts 15:28)
THE SPIRIT BAPTIZES THE CHURCH WITH POWER:
The book of Acts opens with the record of this great event:
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as a fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
This baptism was the powerful force behind the internal, expansion, extension, and bridging growths of the Church recorded in the remainder of the book of Acts.
SELF-TEST
1. Write the Key Verse from memory.
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2. Of whom is the true Church composed?
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3. How did the Church start?
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4. There were several illustrations used in the Bible to describe the Church. Can you remember at least three of them?
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5. What are the four purposes of the Church discussed in this lesson?
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6. Name and briefly define four types of church growth.
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7. This chapter discussed seven purposes of the Holy Spirit in relation to church growth and development. How many can you list?
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(Answers to tests are provided at the conclusion of the final chapter in this manual.)
FOR FURTHER STUDY
1. Here are some guidelines for recognizing the true Church. It is a Church that is:
Doctrinally correct: All teachings are based on the written Word of God.
Composed of regenerated members: The lives of its members have been changed by the power of God.
Worshipful: Worships the one true God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Evangelistic: Is actively involved in the mission of reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Here are some guidelines for recognizing a false Church. It is a church that is:
Doctrinally incorrect: They emphasize selected portions of God's Word and eliminate other portions. They do not take the Word of God literally. They accept teachings of man which contradict God's Word.
Divisive: May have divisions within the church and seeks to cause division within the Body of Christ in general. See Romans 16:17-18; Acts 20:29,30; Ephesians 4.
Controlling: A false church will attempt to control the lives and actions of its members in a domineering way.
Composed of unregenerated members: People continue living in the old sinful lifestyles.
CHAPTER SIX
INTERNAL GROWTH
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
∙ Write the Key Verse from memory.
∙ Explain what is meant by "internal" church growth.
∙ Define "spiritual growth".
∙ Identify the evidences of spiritual growth.
∙ Explain the ministry of the Holy Spirit in relation to internal Church growth.
∙ Identify growth conditions in the natural world that parallel those in the spiritual world.
KEY VERSE:
And... holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (Colossians 1:19)
INTRODUCTION
In the last chapter you learned there are four types of growth in God's plan for multiplication of the church. The Church is to multiply through internal, expansion, extension, and bridging growth. This lesson focuses on the internal growth of the Church.
INTERNAL GROWTH
When we speak of "internal growth" of the Church, we are referring to the spiritual growth and development of its members. The Church grows spiritually in proportion to the growth of its individual members.
The Church must not only grow in quantity through extension, expansion, and bridging growths, it must also grow in quality. Growth in quality is internal or spiritual growth.
Paul referred to this process, comparing it to internal growth in the natural body:
And... holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. (Colossians 1:19)
The "increase of God" refers to spiritual growth. As members grow spiritually, the Church experiences internal growth. The entire Body is nourished and increases with the increase of God.
Spiritual growth is an increase in spiritual maturity which results in the development of the Christ-life in the believer. It is growth in the knowledge of Jesus:
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...(II Peter 3:18)
It is growth in Jesus:
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. (Ephesians 4:15)
Spiritual growth means decrease of self and increase in the life of Christ in you:
He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)
Spiritual growth does not come automatically as a result of the length of time one has been a believer. It is result of the development of the Christ-life in the a believer.
Evidences of spiritual growth include:
1. An increase in spiritual knowledge.
2. Proper application of that knowledge to life and ministry.
3. A deeper delight in spiritual things.
4. A greater love for God and others.
5. Development of Christ-like spiritual qualities. (Spiritual fruit).
6. An increase in desire and ability to share the Gospel with others.
7. Development and effective use of spiritual gifts.
Growth is the natural result of life. If there is spiritual life in a church, internal growth will result as well as expansion, extension, and bridging growths.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND INTERNAL GROWTH
In the last chapter you learned of the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the church. The Holy Spirit:
-Formed the Church.
-Inspires its worship.
-Direct its missionary activities.
-Selects its ministers.
-Anoints its preachers.
-Guides its decisions.
-Baptizes it with power.
In addition to these ministries in the Church, the Holy Spirit has important functions in relation to the internal growth of the Church. These include:
CONVICTION OF SIN:
Spiritual growth is hindered by sin. The Holy Spirit convicts believers of sin:
And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of righteousness, because I go to My Father and ye see me no more;
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11)
When the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, we can then follow the command...
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)
REGENERATION:
"Regeneration" means change. The Holy Spirit changes the lives of believers. Such change brings internal growth:
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. (Titus 3:5)
SANCTIFICATION:
Sanctification means to "separate unto God". This separation results in spiritual growth:
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth...
(II Thessalonians 2:13)
INDWELLING:
The Holy Spirit indwells or lives in the life of believers. The purpose of this indwelling is to strengthen the new nature received through salvation:
What! Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
(I Corinthians 6:19)
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (I Corinthians 3:16)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. (II Corinthians 5:17)
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)
STRENGTHENING:
Strength and growth are related. You become strong as you grow. It takes strength to grow. Internal growth comes through the strengthening of the Holy Spirit:
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16)
UNITY:
Unity brings internal growth in the Church:
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (I Corinthians 6:17)
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body: so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:12-13)
INTERCESSION:
The intercession of the Holy Spirit builds up the believer spiritually:
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. (Jude 20)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Ephesians 6:18)
GUIDANCE:
The Holy Spirit guides believers into the truth of God's Word which brings spiritual growth:
Howbeit when He,the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. (John 16:13)
For as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
(Romans 8:14)
REVELATION:
The Holy Spirit reveals the truths of God's Word to a believer which results in spiritual growth:
But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (I Corinthians 2:10)
LOVE:
People grow spiritually in an atmosphere of love:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5)
CONFORMING:
The Holy Spirit is at work internally to conform believers to the image of Jesus:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (II Corinthians 3:18)
TEACHING:
We grow spiritually as we grow in the knowledge of God. The Holy Spirit is our resident teacher:
But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. (I John 2:27)
ASSURANCE:
Doubt hinders spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit eliminates doubt by giving assurance of salvation:
The Spirit itself beareth witness, with our spirit, that we are the children of God. (Romans 8:16)
And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us. (I John 3:24)
LIBERTY:
Restrictions limit growth. The Holy Spirit gives liberty from sin and traditions of man:
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (II Corinthians 3:17)
COMFORTING:
Depression and discouragement hinder spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit provides comfort:
...and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost...(Acts 9:31)
Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you...
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:17, 26)
QUICKENING:
One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus was to raise Him from the dead.
The same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you. The Spirit is able to quicken (empower, give new life, resurrect) your mortal body:
But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)
If you do not mature spiritually, you become spiritually "dead". The growth process ceases. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that quickens you again to spiritual life.
DEMONSTRATING POWER:
Paul said:
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power;
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (I Corinthians 2:4-5)
The demonstration of power by the Holy Spirit increases your faith in God.
EMPOWERING FOR WITNESSING:
The special power to witness is the true evidence that one has been baptized in the Holy Spirit:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Spiritually mature believers will be reproductive witnesses of the Gospel.
BAPTIZING:
The Church experiences internal growth through the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)
Baptism in the Holy Spirit results in the development of spiritual gifts and fruit in the lives of believers.
GIVING SPIRITUAL GIFTS:
Spiritual gifts are important to the internal growth of the Church because they "edify" believers. To "edify" means to "build up and promote spiritual growth". (You will learn more about spiritual gifts in the next lesson.)
DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL FRUIT:
Spiritual fruit is the nature of the Spirit revealed in the life of the believer. It refers to spiritual qualities which should be evident in the lives of all believers.
Spiritual fruit is the evidence of spiritual growth. Like fruit in the natural world, it is a product which results from the process of life. Just as fruit takes time to develop in the natural world, spiritual fruit takes time to develop. It is the product of internal growth in the life of the believer.
Here is a list of the spiritual fruit of the Holy Spirit:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
God wants you to grow in:
Love: Deep affection, care, and concern.
Joy: Gladness, delight, and jubilance which is not dependent on the circumstances of life.
Peace: Quiet, calm, harmony; absence of strife, anxiety, and concern.
Longsuffering: Patience; the ability to cheerfully bear an unbearable situation; endurance.
Gentleness: A mild manner; not severe, violent or loud; quiet, respectful kindness to others.
Goodness: Acts of holiness and righteousness.
Faith: An attitude of confidence towards God.
Meekness: Controlled strength.
Temperance: Moderation in emotions, thoughts, and actions; self-control.*
CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH
In the natural world there are certain conditions required for growth and development of fruit. These natural conditions are parallels of spiritual factors necessary for growth of the fruit of spiritual maturity. Here are some of the parallels:
LIFE:
Growth is impossible without life. Fruit development starts from a seed. There must be life in the seed, or it will not grow. In the parable of the sower, the "seed" is the Word of God. Growth comes through the seed of the Word:
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. (I Peter 2:2)
Jesus was the visible manifestation of the Word of God, the Seed, and in Him was life:
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)
For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself. (John 5:26)
Jesus came to plant this seed of life in us to enable our spiritual growth:
I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
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* The Harvestime International Institute course entitled "Ministry Of The Holy Spirit" discusses each of these spiritual qualities in detail.
PROPER SOIL:
The seed of the Word of God must have good soil in order to develop properly. Read the parable of the sower in Mark 4. Only the seed which fell on good ground brought spiritual growth:
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the Word , and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. (Mark 4:20)
You must prepare the "ground" of your heart and mind to receive the seed of the Word of God.
WATER:
Water is necessary for growth in the natural world. God promised:
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon dry ground. (Isaiah 44:3)
This pouring out is an anointing of the Holy Spirit of which water is a symbol:
I will pour out of my spirit upon your seed. (Isaiah 44:3 Amplified Version)
He that believeth on me, the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38)
The water of the Holy Spirit causes the seed of the Word of God to take root in the hearts of men and women who are spiritually dead:
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. (Job 14:7-9)
LIGHT:
It is response to light that causes growth in the natural world. Spiritual growth occurs in response to spiritual light. That light is Jesus:
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)
I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)
AIR:
Air is drawn in by the natural plant from the atmosphere which surrounds it. Air is necessary to growth. In the Bible the Holy Spirit is compared to air or a wind:
The wind breathes where it will and thou canst hear the sound of it: But knowest nothing of the way it came or the way it goes. So it is when a man is born of the breath of the spirit. (John 3:8 Knox Translation)
The Holy Spirit breaths life into the Seed of the Word of God. Spiritual growth and fruit development result.
SPACE:
In the parable of the sower competition for space caused some plants to die:
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22)
The competition of the things of the world can choke the seed of the Word of God and prevents spiritual growth.
REST:
A period of rest (called dormancy) occupies a specific season of the development cycle of plants in the natural world. It is a time of rest for the plant and is the season that precedes the springtime of rapid growth. During dormancy, the plant looks like it is dead. But it is not dead. The seed of life is still alive within.
Sometimes an individual or a church may appear as though it is not growing spiritually. But if the seed of the Word of God has been properly planted, internal growth will occur in time (Psalms l).
Just as in the natural world, spiritual dormancy precedes the period of rapid growth and development. Wait patiently for the process of internal growth to multiply spiritual fruit:
Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
(James 5:7)
ROOT SYSTEM:
Roots are necessary to anchor and supply nutrients to the plant. Psalms 1 tells how to develop the root system in your spiritual life:
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doeth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalms 1:1-3)
DEATH:
Every time you plant a seed to produce fruit, it does not come to life unless it dies first:
Verily, verily I say unto you, except acorn of what fall into the ground an die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
(John 12:24)
Every time you plant a seed, you sow something that does not come to life (germinating, springing up, and growing) unless it dies first.
(I Corinthians 15:36 The Amplified Version)
Spiritual life depends on death to the things of the world. It requires death to sin, worldly desires, and pleasures. Death to the world results in the development of the fruit of Christ-likeness in your life.
ATTACHED TO THE VINE:
In order to bear fruit in the natural world a branch must be attached to the main plant. If the branch is broken off from the main life-giving vine or trunk it will not bear fruit.
Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. In order to bear spiritual fruit we must maintain our relationship to Him:
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.
(John 15:1-5)
PRUNING:
Pruning is necessary in the natural world if a plant is to remain reproductive and bear fruit. When a farmer prunes a plant he cuts off the unproductive branches in order to make the plant produce more fruit. He removes everything which would hinder the growth of the plant.
Pruning is also necessary in the spiritual world. Spiritual pruning is correction by God. The Bible also calls it chastisement. When God "prunes" He removes from your life everything which would hinder your spiritual growth. This process is necessary if you are to bear spiritual fruit:
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:2)
Sometimes you do not reap the benefits of pruning because you blame Satan when God is actually the one bringing circumstances in to your life to correct (prune) you. The purpose of God's correction is given in Hosea 6:1:
Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten and He will bind us up. (Hosea 6:1)
The chastisement of pruning results in a return to God. Only by returning to Him will you become spiritually reproductive and bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
CLIMATE:
Climate is important to development of fruit. In the natural world many types of fruit are developed in environments that are specially controlled. They are grown in buildings called "hot houses" at specific temperatures. They are protected from the real environment of the outside world.
If you take a "hot house" plant and move it outside, it will soon die because it has lived only in a controlled environment. It cannot withstand the environment of the real world. Spiritual speaking, you do not want "hot house" Christians who look good in controlled settings but wilt on contact with the real world.
SELF-TEST
1. Write the Key Verse from memory.
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2. What do we mean when we speak of the internal growth of the Church?
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3. What is spiritual growth?
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4. List seven evidences of spiritual growth.
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5. This lesson discussed many ways the Holy Spirit affects the internal growth of the church. List those you can remember:
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6. This lesson discussed the conditions for spiritual growth similar to those necessary for growth in the natural world. List those you can remember.
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(Answers to tests are provided at the conclusion of the final chapter in this manual.)
FOR FURTHER STUDY
1. When a plant is near death in the natural world, it must be revived. When a Church is near spiritual death, revival is also necessary. To revive is to "regain life and flourish anew". Study the following references:
A cry for revival: Psalms 85:6 God's plan for revival: II Chronicles 7:14
Study the following accounts of revivals in the Old Testament. What were the factors that brought revival? What were the results of each revival?
The revival at Sinai: Exodus 32:1-35; 33:1:23
The revival under Samuel: I Samuel 7:1-17
The revival on Mt. Carmel: I Kings 18:1-46
The revival in Ninevah: The book of Jonah
Revival under Asa: II Chronicles 15
Revival under Hezekiah: II Chronicles 29:1-36; 30:1-27; 31:1-21
Revival under Josiah: II Chronicles 34:1-33; 35:1-19
Post-captivity revival: Nehemiah 8:1-18
2. In the last chapter you learned that the Church is compared to a spiritual building built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Internal spiritual growth is the process of building on that foundation. Study the following outline:
GROWING BY BUILDING
BASIC PRINCIPLES:
A. What are you building spiritually?
1. You are a building:
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house...(I Peter 2:5)
2. You are building an eternal structure:
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (II Corinthians 5:1)
3. The Church is a building:
...Ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
(Ephesians 2:20-22)
B. There are two involved in the process:
1. God:
...He that built all things is God. (Hebrews 3:4)
Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that built it...
(Psalms 127:1)
...I will build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)
2. Man: Man, in union with God, is to build:
For we are laborers together with God..ye are God's building.
(I Corinthians 3:9)
...Building up yourselves on your most holy faith...(Jude 20)
You...and they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places...thou shalt raise up the foundations...thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in. (Isaiah 58:12)
BEFORE YOU START TO BUILD:
Before you start to build you must:
1. Count The Cost:
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after He hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it began to mock him. Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
(Luke 14:28-30)
2. Be Determined:
And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord...
(II Chronicles 2:1)
3. Have A Proper Motive:
Behold, I build an house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet smelling incense...continual shewbread, ...burnt offerings..solemn feasts...(II Chronicles 2:4)
4. Prepare:
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach it...(Ezra 7:10)
And that servant, which knew this lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will...(Luke 12:47)
HOW TO BUILD:
1. Build On The Right Foundation:
Wise man builds on foundation of the Word...it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. (Matthew 7:24-27)
The right foundation is Jesus and His Word:
..Ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20)
Built up in Him...established in the faith as ye have been taught....
(Colossians 2:7)
Be careful how you build on this foundation:
For other foundation can no man lay that is laid, which Is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (I Corinthians 3:10-13)
2. Build According To The Plan:
In every Biblical building project, there was a plan given by God. See Genesis 6: Exodus 25: I Chronicles 22. People obeyed God's plan:
Thus did Noah, according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
(Genesis 6:22)
The plan was different, but the same was true of Moses, David, Solomon, Ezra, and Nehemiah...each did as the Lord commanded.
All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, every all the works of this pattern...then David gave to Solomon his son, the pattern...(I Chronicles 28)
If you do not follow God's plan for building your life on the Word of God, you will not succeed:
Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, he shall destroy them and not build them up. (Psalms 28:5)
3. Build According To Your Ability:
In building projects of Old Testament times, people gave according to their own ability:
They gave after their ability....(Ezra 2:69)
4. Build willingly:
Be willing to grow spiritually:
They offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place...
(Ezra 2:68)
5. Build In The Strength Of The Lord:
And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord God was upon me...
(Ezra 7:28)
6. Build In Unity:
The people had a mind to work... (Nehemiah 4:6)
7. Build Wisely:
Through wisdom is an